Method of playing three card poker

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a poker wagering game with one or more players and a dealer. Each player makes one or more wagers prior to the cards being dealt. The wagers include a pair plus dealer wager as well as other types of optional wagers. The player may win the pair plus dealer wager if the dealer&#39;s hand includes a pair or better, regardless of the outcome of the other wagers.

FIELD

The embodiments described herein relate to gambling games and moreparticularly to a method of playing three card poker that provides theplayer additional options for placing a wager.

BACKGROUND

The game of three-card poker is played between a dealer and at least oneplayer with at least one deck of playing cards comprising 52 cards. Aplayer wins if the player's three-card poker hand is higher then thedealer's three-card poker hand.

In three-card poker, cards may be dealt from a single deck. Cards areranked from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, with 2being lowest and Ace being highest.

Conventionally, after each player makes an ante wager, both the dealerand each player receive 3 cards face down. If, after looking at his/hercards, a player does not believe his/her hand can beat the dealer'shand, the player can fold and the wager is lost. If a player believesthat his/her hand can beat the dealer's hand, the player may raisehis/her wager with a wager equal to the ante amount.

After each player has had the opportunity to raise or fold, the dealerwill reveal his/her cards. If the dealer has a qualifying hand, forexample if the dealer has a Queen or higher, the dealer will thencompare the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who did not fold.Hands may be ranked according to standard poker ranking rules with theexception that a straight is higher then a flush. If the dealer's handis higher than a player's hand, that player loses both the ante andraise wagers. If a player's hand is higher than the dealer's hand, thatplayer wins the amount the player has wagered. If a player has astraight or better, the player may be paid an ante bonus according toschedule, such as Schedule A set out in FIG. 1. In the event of a tie,both the ante and the raise wager push.

If the dealer does not have a qualifying hand, the dealer does notcompare hands. Each player who did not fold is paid 1:1 on the antewager and the raise wager is returned as a push.

The object of the pair plus game is to wager on whether you will receivea three-card poker hand with any pair or better. In addition to the antewager, each player may make an optional pair plus wager on whether theplayer will receive a 3 card poker hand with any pair or better. Thepair plus wager is played against predetermined pay schedule, such asSchedule B set out in FIG. 2. The pair plus wager is won if the player'shand comprises a pair or higher. If the player wagers on the ante andfolds, the pair plus wager is also forfeited.

FIG. 3 exemplifies a conventional three-card poker table 100. To placean ante wager, the player must place a wager on the ante diamond 102. Toplace a pair plus wager, the player places a wager on the pair pluscircle 106. The dealer then deals 3 cards face down to each of theplayers and 3 cards to himself from the deck of cards 108. If a playerfeels they can beat the dealer after looking at their cards, then theymay place their cards face down on the play box 104 and place a wagerequal to the value of the ante wager on top of their cards. Otherwise,if the player wishes to fold, they may put their cards face down besidethe ante diamond 102.

SUMMARY

In accordance with this invention, any three-card poker game is providedwith an additional optional dealer plus wager or bet. The additionaldealer plus optional bet is a wager that may be placed by each player onwhether the dealer will receive at least a designed hand or higher,preferably a pair or higher (i.e. a “pair plus dealer wager”). Thiswager may be payable even if the player does not make an ante wager,preferably if the player makes an ante wager and, more preferably, aslong as the player makes the ante wager and does not fold. However, inone embodiment, it will be appreciated that the player may win a pairplus dealer wager as long as the player makes the ante wager even if theplayer folds during the game.

As the wager is on the content of the hand that the dealer receives, andnot a comparison of the dealer's hand with a player's hand, preferably,the player may win the wager even if the dealer has a higher hand.However, in a variant, it will be appreciated that the pair plus dealerwager may only be payable if the player wins the hand, i.e. the player'shand outranks the dealer's hand based on a set of predetermined rankingof winning hands.

An advantage of this additional wager is that the potential exists tosignificantly increase a player's average bet. For example, by providinga player with an additional opportunity to place a wager with each hand,which may be won independent of the player having a hand that outranksthe dealer's hand, the player may place an additional wager with eachhand. This additional wager provides the potential for additionalrevenue for the house.

A player may be motivated to place a pair plus dealer wager on thedealer's hand for several reasons. If the pay out scale is similar tothat of a standard pair plus wager placed on a player's hand, which ispreferred, then the player has an opportunity to win a large payout on asmall wager. Alternately, or in addition, the player may believe instreaks and may shift from placing a pair plus wager on the player's ownhand to a placing a pair plus wager on the dealer's hand. Alternately,or in addition, the player may believe that the dealer always wins andtherefore may place a pair plus wager on the dealer's hand.

As the pair plus wager on the dealer's hand is preferably operated onthe same rules and pay out schedule as the pair plus wager on theplayer's own hand, dealers and regular players will immediatelyunderstand the rules and pay out schedule. This familiarity with therules and pay out schedule will enable players to quickly adopt thewager and adapt it to the player's betting strategy.

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a method of playingthree card poker with a dealer and one or more players, the methodcomprising:

-   -   (a) providing at least one deck of playing cards;    -   (b) providing a predetermined ranking of winning hands of the        playing cards;    -   (c) at least one of the players also making pair plus dealer        wager that is to be paid based on a predetermined pay scale;    -   (d) dealing a plurality of playing cards to the dealer to form a        dealer hand and to each player who has made an ante wager to        form a player hand;    -   (e) comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the        predetermined ranking of winning hands; and,    -   (f) if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination,        then paying each player who made the pair plus dealer wager        according to the predetermined pay scale.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises at least one of theplayers making an ante wager.

In another embodiment, if the dealer's hand is equal to or greater thana predetermined qualifying hand, then comparing the dealer's hand toeach player's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands andresolving the ante wager and, if the dealer's hand is less then apredetermined qualifying hand, then paying each player based on the antewager.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises permitting each playerwho makes an ante wager to make a raise wager and if the dealer's handis equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, thencomparing the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who has made anante wager and not folded and

-   -   (i) if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand using the        predetermined ranking of winning hands, paying the player based        on the ante wager and the raise wager; and    -   (ii) if the dealer's hand outranks the player's hand, forfeiting        the qualifying the player's ante and raise wager.

In another embodiment, if the dealer's hand is less then thepredetermined qualifying hand, then returning each raise wager as apush.

In another embodiment, the at least one deck of playing cards is astandard deck of 52 playing cards.

In another embodiment, the raise wager must be equal to or higher thenthe ante wager.

In another embodiment, the qualifying hand is a queen high.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payoutrate of at least 1:1 if the dealer's hand includes a pair or highercombination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of atleast 1:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand hasa pair.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payoutrate of at least 5:1 if the dealer's hand includes a straight or highercombination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of atleast 5:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand hasa straight.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payoutrate of at least 15:1 if the dealer's hand includes three of a kind orhigher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rateof at least 15:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer'shand has three of a kind.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method of playinga poker game with a dealer and one or more players, the methodcomprising:

-   -   (a) providing at least one deck of playing cards;    -   (b) providing a predetermined ranking of winning hands of the        playing cards;    -   (c) at least one of the players making an ante wager;    -   (d) at least one of the players also making plus dealer wager        that is to be paid based on a predetermined pay scale;    -   (e) dealing a plurality of playing cards to the dealer to form a        dealer hand and to each player who has made an ante wager to        form a player hand;    -   (f) comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the        predetermined ranking of winning hands and resolving the ante        wager; and,    -   (g) if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination,        then paying each player who made the plus dealer wager according        to the predetermined pay scale.

In one embodiment, each poker hand includes three cards.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises permitting eachplayer who makes an ante wager to make a raise wager and if the dealer'shand is equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, thencomparing the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who has made anante wager and not folded and

-   -   (i) if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand using the        predetermined ranking of winning hands, paying the player based        on the ante wager and the raise wager; and    -   (ii) if the dealer's hand outranks the player's hand, forfeiting        the qualifying the player's ante and raise wager.

In another embodiment, the at least one deck of playing cards is astandard deck of 52 playing cards.

In another embodiment, the raise wager must be equal to or higher thenthe ante wager.

In another embodiment, the qualifying hand is a queen high.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payoutrate of at least 1:1 if the dealer's hand includes a pair or highercombination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of atleast 1:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has apair.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payoutrate of at least 5:1 if the dealer's hand includes a straight or highercombination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of atleast 5:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has astraight.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payoutrate of at least 15:1 if the dealer's hand includes three of a kind orhigher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rateof at least 15:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's handhas three of a kind.

Further aspects and advantages of the embodiments described herein willbe revealed in the following description along with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the embodiments described herein and toshow more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference willnow be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings whichshow at least one exemplary embodiment, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary chart of possible ante bonus hand ranks andpayouts;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary chart of possible pair plus hand ranks andpayouts;

FIG. 3 is a conventional three card poker table according to the priorart; and,

FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a three-card poker table for usewith the current invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated amongthe figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements or steps. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the embodiments described herein may be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures andcomponents have not been described in detail so as not to obscure theembodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to beconsidered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein inany way, but rather as merely describing the implementation of thevarious embodiments described herein.

In one embodiment, the method is provides an additional wager that maybe made by any player who is playing three-card poker. This method maybe used with any rules used for three-card poker. Accordingly, the rulesof the modified three-card poker game described herein, referred to asthree-card poker plus, may be the same as the rules for conventionalthree-card poker but with a new type of player wager being offered. Inthree card poker plus, the player may wager a pair plus wager (of anyamount allowed by the table stakes), on the dealer's hand, referred toas a pair plus dealer wager, in addition to or in lieu of the optionalpair plus wager on the player's own hand. The payouts on the pair plusdealer wager are preferably the same as on the conventional pair pluswager, an example of which is shown in Schedule B of FIG. 2.Accordingly, three-card poker may be played using the rules set out inthe Background of the Invention section of this specification.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 4, which shows an exemplarythree-card poker plus table 200. The three card poker plus table 200 issimilar to the conventional three card poker table 100 shown in FIG. 3except that a new pair plus dealer wager area 210 appears on the tablefor a pair plus dealer wager.

As with conventional three-card poker, in three cards poker plus, eachplayer preferably first places an ante wager, such as by placing theactual wager on the ante diamond 102. To place a conventional pair pluswager, a player may place a wager on the pair plus circle 106. Thiswager is placed before the player sees the player's own cards and,preferably, before the cards for that hand are dealt. To place a pairplus dealer wager, a player may place a wager on the pair plus dealerwager area 210. This wager is placed before the player sees the dealer'scards, preferably before the player sees the player's own cards and,more preferably, before the cards for that hand are dealt.

The dealer deals 3 cards face down to each of the players and 3 cards tothe dealer from the deck of cards 108. If a player believes that theycan beat the dealer after looking at their cards, then they may proceedwith the hand, such as by placing their cards face down on play box 104and, e.g., place a raise wager equal to the value of the ante wager ontop of their cards. Alternately, the player may fold, such as by placingthe player's own cards face down beside the ante diamond 102.

After each player has had the opportunity to raise or fold, the dealermay reveal the dealer's cards. The game may require the dealer to have aqualifying hand for the dealer to be able to win. The qualifying handmay be a Queen or higher. In such a case, if the dealer has a Queen orhigher, the dealer will then compare the dealer's hand to the hand ofeach player who has not folded using a predetermined ranking of winninghands. The predetermined ranking of winning hands is preferably thestandard poker ranking rules. If the dealer's hand is higher than aplayer's hand, that player loses both the ante and any raise wagers. Ifa player's hand is higher than the dealer's hand, that player wins theamount the player has wagered in the ante and the raise wagers.Optionally, if a player has a designated hand, e.g., a straight orbetter, the player may be paid an ante bonus according to Schedule A ofFIG. 1. In the event of a tie, the ante and the raise wager may bepushed.

If the dealer does not have a qualifying hand, then preferably, thedealer does not compare hands. Each player who has not folded may bepaid 1:1 on the ante wager and the raise wager may be returned as apush.

In addition to the preferred but optional ante wager, each player maymake an optional pair plus wager, which is played against apredetermined pay table, such as Schedule B of FIG. 2. The pair pluswager may be made by placing the amount that is wagered the pair pluscircle 106. The pair plus wager is won if the player's hand comprises apair or higher. If the player wagers on the ante and folds, the pairplus wager may also forfeited. Alternately, the player may still beentitled to win, even if the player has folded.

In three-card poker plus, each player has the option to make a pair plusdealer wager. This pair plus dealer wager is based on the hand that isdealt to the dealer. The player places the wager on the assumption thatthe dealer will have a hand that is at least a pair or higher. Theadvantage of using a pair or higher is that a player may place a wageron the belief that the dealer will always win. Therefore, using a pairor an even higher hand will increase the use of the wager and increasethe excitement of the game. Increasing the enjoyment of a game willresult in more players playing the game and a higher utilization ofavailable gaming tables.

Preferably, the pair plus dealer wager is played against a predeterminedpay table. Preferably, this table is similar to, and more preferably thesame as, the one used for pair plus wagering. Accordingly, the higherthe dealer's hand, the greater the payout rate and the more the playermay win, even if the player places only a small pair plus dealer wager.

The pair plus dealer wager may be made by placing the amount that iswagered on the pair plus dealer wager area 210. The pair plus dealerwager is won if the dealer's hand comprises at least the same as thedesignated hand, preferably a pair or higher. If the player wagers onthe ante but folds, the pair plus dealer wager may also be forfeited.Alternately, in another variant, the player may still win even if theyhave folded.

In accordance with another embodiment, this dealer plus wager may beplaced on the requirement that the dealer's designated hand must behigher than a pair. Accordingly, even if the dealer has a pair, theplayer would not win if the minimum ranking designated hand were, e.g.,a straight. Therefore, player may place a dealer plus wager on theassumption that the dealer will have a hand that is of at least, e.g., astraight or higher. Alternately, selected combinations of high-rankinghands may be used.

While certain features of the various embodiments described herein havebeen illustrated and described herein, many modifications,substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those ofordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications.

1. A method of playing three card poker with a dealer and one or more players, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one deck of playing cards; (b) providing a predetermined ranking of winning hands of the playing cards; (c) at least one of the players making a pair plus dealer wager that is to be paid based on a predetermined pay scale; (d) dealing a plurality of playing cards to the dealer to form a dealer hand and to each player who has made an ante wager to form a player hand; (e) comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands; and, (f) if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination, then paying each player who made the pair plus dealer wager according to the predetermined pay scale.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising at least one of the players making an ante wager.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein if the dealer's hand is equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, then comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands and resolving the ante wager and, if the dealer's hand is less then a predetermined qualifying hand, then paying each player based on the ante wager.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising permitting each player who makes an ante wager to make a raise wager and if the dealer's hand is equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, then comparing the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who has made an ante wager and not folded and (i) if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands, paying the player based on the ante wager and the raise wager; and (ii) if the dealer's hand outranks the player's hand, forfeiting the qualifying the player's ante and raise wager.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein, if the dealer's hand is less then the predetermined qualifying hand, then returning each raise wager as a push.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one deck of playing cards is a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the raise wager must be equal to or higher then the ante wager.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the qualifying hand is a queen high.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 1:1 if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 1:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand has a pair.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 5:1 if the dealer's hand includes a straight or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 5:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand has a straight.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 15:1 if the dealer's hand includes three of a kind or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 15:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand has three of a kind.
 12. A method of playing a poker game with a dealer and one or more players, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one deck of playing cards; (b) providing a predetermined ranking of winning hands of the playing cards; (c) at least one of the players making an ante wager; (d) at least one of the players also making a dealer plus wager that is to be paid based on a predetermined pay scale; (e) dealing a plurality of playing cards to the dealer to form a dealer hand and to each player who has made an ante wager to form a player hand; (f) comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands and resolving the ante wager; and, (g) if the dealer's hand includes a designated combination or higher, then paying each player who made the dealer plus wager according to the predetermined pay scale.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein each poker hand includes three cards.
 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising permitting each player who makes an ante wager to make a raise wager and if the dealer's hand is equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, then comparing the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who has made an ante wager and not folded and (i) if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands, paying the player based on the ante wager and the raise wager; and (ii) if the dealer's hand outranks the player's hand, forfeiting the qualifying the player's ante and raise wager.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one deck of playing cards is a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein the raise wager must be equal to or higher then the ante wager.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the qualifying hand is a queen high.
 18. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 1:1 if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 1:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has a pair.
 19. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 5:1 if the dealer's hand includes a straight or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 5:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has a straight.
 20. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 15:1 if the dealer's hand includes three of a kind or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 15:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has three of a kind. 